Method of and apparatus for molding building blocks



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698.,120

s. BERRY 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April 25, 1928 Flgl 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 gwoemto p Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,120

S. BERRY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y g'wuan io'c Simon Berry Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

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snvron Benny, or SEATTLE, wAsrrrnGToN,

METHOD or AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS.

Application filed April 25, 1928. Serial No. 272,586.

and labor required and to provide a mechanism for doing this which will enable a workman to turn out an increased product. In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated a mechanism which may be used to secure the above mentioned results.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the assembled apparatus employed, different compartments of the mold being shown in different conditions.

Figure 2 is an end elevation'and partial section of the same.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation taken one plane at right angles to that of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan View of a portion of the molds illustrating steps in the making of the blocks.

The type of block produced by the practice of my invention is in its most common embodiment in the form of a rectangular slab having holes therethrough extending from one edge to the opposite edge and parallel to the main side faces. These holes are usually circular cross section, although they may be made of other cross section. I have illustrated the usual type of block.

I prefer to assemble the molds in groups or batteries, which will mold at the same time a number of blocks. The apparatus shown will mold atone time sixteen blocks. The number may be varied. The apparatus illustrated has four compartments, each forming four blocks, 1.

The walls of each compartment is formed by two side bars 2, connected towards their ends by transverse bars 20. The end bars 20 should be securely held in proper position, as by the use of tongue and groove joints, as has been illustrated. The outermost side bar 2 of a group may be supported against outwe rd thrust by brackets or buttresses 21.

Each compartment is divided into a series of block molds by transverse partition plates 22, their ends entering grooves in the side bars 2. The cross bars 20 and partition plate 22 all have holes for the reception of the core 4, having one end turned up to form a flange 43, perforated to receive the core bars. A lining or surface forming sheet'etO maybe placed 7 ,which will. produce a like surfaceupon the clock. A cover plate or sheet 41,.may similar- 1y be used to give the upper. surface ofthe block such pattern as may be desired. This latter sheet mustbepressed or forced down upon the blockmaterial While it is still plastic. v

F or convenience of handling, the bars 2 and 20 are preferably made deeper than the block to be made, so that the metal bottom plates l may be provided with supporting wheels 42-.

-The core bars 3 are not tapered, but are of uniform size throughout their length. At one end they are engaged by a mechanism by which they may be given such movement while the, blocks are setting as will prevent movement maybe a reciprocating or a rotary turning movement, or a combination'of both. The device illustrated will produce the combined movement.

I A bar 5 is fixed alongside of the battery of molds and has guides for each core bar. Such guides and the endof the core bar may be of complement-a1 helical threadorscrew like construction, 50, so that reciprocation of the rods will also cause a rotative or turning movement.

The core bars 3 are connected with a crosshead bar 6 and this is connected by connect-- ing rods 60 with crank pins 61, carried by a shaft 62, which shaft is slowly turned in any convenient and suitable manner, as through This a Worm and: gear mechanism 63, by a motor 64. It is the purpose by this or an equivalent mechanism, to give the core bars a slow movement relative to the block being molded, thereby to prevent binding of the block upon the bars. By doing this it is possible to use core bars without any taper, from which it follows that the holes in the blocks may all be of the same size and of true shape and the size and spacing of the holes to be such as to make the maximum of voids without reducing the thickness ofthe walls below the contemplated minimum. It also makes possible molding at one time'a considerable series of blocks upon the same core bars, thereby increasing the output. The method employed is also such as will reduce to a minimum breakage caused by removal of core bars. 3

The manner of operation is as follows: The

setting of the block material. meant setting to such a point that the block off of the core bars.

' ation and the core bars being reciprocated.

Thisreciprocation of the bars should continue through what I call the preliminary By this is has'enoughpermanency of condition to re tain its shape when the core bars are withdrawn. H r

When thiscondition of setting has been reached, or any time thereafter which is Convenient, the mold is disassembled to the point where the bottom plates 4 of the respective compartments may be drawn out. This may be done if the side bars 2 are lifted. As the plate 4 is drawn out the blocks thereon are drawn off of the core bars after which the partition plates 22 may be removed. 7

When drawing out the plates i the blocks 1 thereon are positively supported by the flanges 43 of the plate,to thereby be forced Blocks molded in this manner and by the use of the apparatus described will be true and uniform in all their dimensions, including thickness of walls.

The ability to do this makes it possible .to

VCOIGS- found to be adapted to this work may be emmake the "walls thinner than would be possible where variation of sizes necessitates eX- tra allowance of thickness. In consequence, a saving of weight and material is possible;

The material most commonly used in making suc-hbuilding blocks is a gypsum compound. This sets very quickly so that but a few minutes need elapse before sufficient setting h'as occurred to permit removal of the Any other material or compound plo'yed.

What I claim as my invention is: V

1. The method of molding perforated blocks of cementitious material by the use of cores which consists in giving the cores a movement during the preliminary setting periodwhich is a compound of reciprocative and rotary movements.

2. An apparatus for molding perforated blocks comprising a mold adapted to outline the blocks, core bars extending through said mold, fixed guide members for the coreb-ars,

said core bars and guide members having interengaging screw surfaces adapted upon reciprocation of the core bars to also give them a turning movement, and means for reciprocating the core bars.

Signed at Seattle, King county, ton, this 19th day of April, 1928.

SIMON Wa hing- BERRY. 

